by David Corrigan, Tim Bryan

The west side of the island was under a high surf warning earlier in the week, forcing the closure of some Kona beaches. The swell turned deadly on Thursday, when fire crews responded to Anaehoomalu Bay in Waikoloa after receiving reports of a missing stand up paddleboard surfer.

Witnesses said they saw Rowenn Cabalo of Waimea thrown ‘over the falls’ – as they described it –  while paddleboard surfing a large wave. Fragments of Cabalo’s board later were recovered. A fire department helicopter later found Cabalo 100 yards offshore.

Cabalo was a dedicated father of two young children.

A Celebration of Life for Rowenn will take place at 10:00am, Sat. the 20th, at Anaeho’omalu Bay.